10 Ways You Can Tell A Video Game Is Going To Suck

Few things will sink a game faster than a bad tutorial, because if the developers can't onboard players in the most basically compelling way, what hope in hell is there for the game proper?

There are several ways to quantify a "bad" tutorial - perhaps it's too long, feels too much like a lesson, or is just overly talky while feeling entirely disconnected from the main game.

Take the video game adaptation of Superman Returns, whose tutorial mission infamously sees you listlessly intercepting meteors to protect Metropolis for what feels like a damn age. We get it - can we move on already?

Conversely, a good tutorial will generally feel massaged into the main fabric of the game, perhaps gradually unfurling gameplay systems to the player as needed in a way that feels organic and efficient.

Basically, tutorials shouldn't feel like homework, they shouldn't overwhelm you with information upfront, and above all else they need to be fun. If the developers get any of these wrong, it's an instant indicator that the rest of the game won't fare much better.